Composite sensor

• US 8,028,578 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohkoshi, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwok; Helen C.
• Application Number:
  US12/281,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20090013784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 734/93, 735/10, 735/11, 735/041.6, 735/142.9, 735/143.2, 735/041.2, 734/31
• US Class Current: 73/493
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/56 Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses, e.g. vibratory angular rate sensors based on Coriolis forces
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices

Abstract

A composite sensor includes an angular velocity sensor element, an acceleration sensor element, a signal processing IC for processing signals from the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element, an inner package for accommodating the angular velocity sensor element, the acceleration sensor element, and the signal processing IC; a coupler connected to this inner package, and a fixing member connected to this coupler for holding the inner package via this coupler. The coupler is elastically deformable. One of the acceleration sensor element and the signal processing IC is located at the right with respect to the center of the inner package, and the other of the acceleration sensor element and the signal processing IC is located at the left with respect to the center of the inner package. The composite sensor angular maintains its characteristics of the angular velocity sensor element while the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element are accommodated in one package.

Claims

1. A composite sensor comprising;

an angular velocity sensor element;

an acceleration sensor element;

a signal processing IC for processing signals from the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element;

an inner package for accommodating the angular velocity sensor element, the acceleration sensor element, and the signal processing IC;

a coupler connected to the inner package, the coupler being elastically deformable; and

a fixing member connected to the coupler for holding the inner package via the coupler, wherein

the acceleration sensor element is located in one space in the inner package with respect to a center of the inner package,

the signal processing IC is located in another space in the inner package with respect to the center of the inner package,

the inner package has a center of gravity at a center of the inner package.

2. The composite sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the coupler is made of elastic material,

the angular velocity sensor element is configured to vibrate to detect an angular velocity according to a Coriolis force produced thereon,

the angular velocity sensor element vibrates in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the coupler deflects, and

a detection direction of the acceleration sensor element is parallel to the direction along which the angular velocity sensor element vibrates.

3. The composite sensor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the angular velocity sensor element and the acceleration sensor element is inclined in the inner package.